Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I talked about housing for Hay River, and I've got questions for the Premier. I'm going to be a realist here because I am not holding my breath on the Housing Corporation coming up with any solutions for the community. We have a solution in front of us. We've got 50, 60, 70 apartments and up to 122, and for some reason, this government just does not see it. I don't want to hear that anybody has died in Hay River because of exposure or freezing to death, as well, so that's why I keep after this subject. I would like to ask the Premier to confirm: what departments are involved in addressing the efficiency issues and orders related to the Mackenzie Place high-rise? Is there a lead department? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Honourable Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes. The lead department that will be looking into the Mackenzie Place high-rise -- I want to make sure I get the name right. I'm just used to calling it the high-rise; sorry, Mr. Speaker. The lead department will be Municipal and Community Affairs, and then there are key departments that are working on it, of course: Municipal and Community Affairs; Health and Social Services is working on it; Infrastructure has a piece in it; the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation; and then also the WSCC, Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I'd like to ask the Premier to confirm the status of orders placed on the high-rise by the department of health. Has communication stalled, or are we making progress to have those orders satisfied?
Since that is a direct question for the Department of Health and Social Services, I would like to defer it to the appropriate Minister.
Thank you, Honourable Premier. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the Member for Hay River South for that question. There is a public health order in place for the building based on the risk of exposure to asbestos and mould, among other things. The CPHO has been working diligently with the owner this month to understand the level of contamination and remediation that has taken place and what needs to take place in the future. The most recent development is that the CPHO has hired a consultant to verify and augment the reports that she has received from the contractor for the owner, and this work will be done on an expedited time frame. I think that the CPHO is well aware of the value of the building as housing in a situation where housing is in very short supply and is trying to bring together the need for safety with the need for housing as soon as possible. Thank you.
That answer is very encouraging. I'm glad to hear the word "expedited," as well, and I look forward to hearing the results. The other issue, now, with the Mackenzie Place high-rise is that there is potential for the power to be turned off next week, and it's going to have an effect on the emergency lighting, which sits on top of it and gives some indication to aircraft that there is a building there that is kind of high. What I'd like to ask the Premier is if she or one of her departments will commit the appropriate department to keep the power on in the high-rise to ensure aircraft and passenger safety, because, at this point, if that light goes out I'm not sure what's going to happen with that. I heard that the airport was going to just tell the aircraft that there is a big building there, so be careful. I'm kind of hoping that's not the situation.
That question I'd like to defer to the Minister of Infrastructure.
Thank you, Honourable Premier. Minister of Infrastructure.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The role of the Department of Infrastructure is limited to inspections, to communication, and enforcement of the territorial regulations to ensure that the GNWT-owned assets are in compliance with the applicable federal regulations. As this is a private infrastructure, the owner is responsible for the complying with federal Canadian aviation regulations. For the lighting of the towers above the specific heights of this enforcement by Transportation Canada. We remain hopeful that the owner will be able to find a solution by November 6th and will be able to keep the electricity on the building. Should this not happen, there will be a notice to airmen, or the NOTAM, created that will advise pilots of the building that does not have a rooftop beacon in the vicinity of the Hay River airport. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thought, with that sunshine shining in here, I was going to get some good answers, but I see it has kind of gone away now. I hear that the department has certain responsibilities, but as government we have responsibility of the safety of our people and the residents of the NWT. We have a lot of aircraft flying around. For probably $5,000 or $6,000 we can keep this power on for probably for the rest of the winter. I'm not happy with the response, and I'll talk to the Minister later. Can the Premier confirm what is the position of the Office of the Fire Marshal on the Mackenzie Place high-rise? Has that order been satisfied or is there further work and inspections required with respect to it? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I'd like to defer that question to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Madam Premier. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just in regard to the fire at the Hay River high-rise, I want to follow up with the Member. It is quite lengthy, and there is a lot of detail with what the fire marshal has displayed. I'll follow up with the Member on that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.
